Isabel/Gameplay

Halo Wars 2

"Isabel improves the effectiveness of vehicles using her database of the latest UNSC tech, and employs hacking and distraction powers in battle."

— In-game description of Isabel.

• Unique Units: Alice-130 (Hero unit)
• Privileges: Retrofit UNSC Spirit of Fire Arsenals and better efficiency for armored units.
• Tier 1 Leader Powers
  • Lotus Mine I: Drops a line of cloaked mines. Once armed, mines explode on contact.
    • Population Cost: N/A
    • Supply Cost: 25
    • Power Cost: 100
    • Cooldown: 105 seconds
  • Lotus Mine II: Increases damage and explosion size of Lotus Mines
    • Population Cost: N/A
    • Supply Cost: 50
    • Power Cost: 200
    • Cooldown: 105 seconds
  • Holographic Decoy I: Targets own units. Creates decoys of affected units. Decoys can be used to scout and trick enemy Turrets and units.
    • Population Cost: N/A
    • Supply Cost: 100
    • Power Cost: 30
    • Cooldown: 110 seconds
  • Holographic Decoy II: Increases number of decoys that can be produced. Decoys last longer.
    • Population Cost: N/A
    • Supply Cost: 200
    • Power Cost: 50
    • Cooldown: 110 seconds
• Tier 2 Leader Powers
  • Accelerated Assembly I: Reduces costs and build times for vehicle production.
  • Accelerated Assembly II: Further reduces costs and build times for vehicle production.
  • Restoration Drones I: Units and buildings within area are healed.
    • Population Cost: N/A
    • Supply Cost: 200
    • Power Cost: 50
    • Cooldown: 160 seconds
  • Restoration Drones II: Increases power of Restoration drones
    • Population Cost: N/A
    • Supply Cost: 350
    • Power Cost: 125
    • Cooldown: 160 seconds
  • Restoration Drones III: Increases power of Restoration drones
    • Population Cost: N/A
    • Supply Cost: 400
    • Power Cost: 150
    • Cooldown: 210 seconds
• Tier 3 Leader Powers
  • MAC Blast I: Fires a large kinetic slug at the battlefield.Damages all unit types and buildings.
    • Population Cost: N/A
    • Supply Cost: 350
    • Power Cost: 250
    • Cooldown: 228 seconds
  • MAC Blast II: Increases MAC Blast impact size and damage.
    • Population Cost: N/A
    • Supply Cost: 450
    • Power Cost: 350
    • Cooldown: 228 seconds
  • MAC Blast III: Further increases MAC Blast impact size and damage.
    • Population Cost: N/A
    • Supply Cost: 550
    • Power Cost: 450
    • Cooldown: 228 seconds
  • Heavy Metal I: Targets own units. Affected units gain a defensive boost. Slows targeted units while active.
    • Population Cost: N/A
    • Supply Cost: 200
    • Power Cost: 50
    • Cooldown: 180 seconds
  • Heavy Metal II: Increases Heavy Metal’s target size, defense boost, and duration.
    • Population Cost: N/A
    • Supply Cost: 400
    • Power Cost: 100
    • Cooldown: 180 seconds
• Tier 4 Leader Powers
  • Turret Drop I: Drops a temporary M5 Talos base turret into battle.
    • Population Cost: N/A
    • Supply Cost: 400
    • Power Cost: 25
    • Cooldown: 203 Seconds
  • The Best Offense: M808S Scorpions and EV-44 Nightingales gain shields and increased health.
• Tier 5 Leader Powers
  • Combat Salvage: Causes next eight non-infantry units to respawn at home base after being destroyed.
    • Population Cost: N/A
    • Supply Cost: 1,500
    • Power Cost: 1,000
    • Cooldown: 330 seconds
  • Ghost In The Machine: Takes control of enemy vehicles and aircraft for 20 seconds.
    • Population Cost: N/A
    • Supply Cost: 850
    • Power Cost: 850
    • Cooldown: 330 seconds

Strategies

General

• Surprise attack is the key. Utilizing Ghost In the Machine Leader Power correctly, the player can cause chaos amongst the enemy ranks.
  • This is also suitable to make a surprise attack, as it affects all mechanical units, including a Super Unit. The more units player destroy using their own weapons, the more chance they will switch to infantry-based strategy.
  • Note that any units inside the mobile garrison such as Phantom or Mastodon will be automatically kicked out from the vehicle, be wary of it.
• Accelerated Assembly is very useful for Mid-game, allowing player to immediately establish a group of armored units.
• Holographic Decoys is very useful if the player wishes to trick other players to use an active or offense leader power. A stealth detection unit, however, such as Sniper, Nightingale, and Engineer can expose it.
• Isabel's main role is generally Offensive.

With Allies

• Make the timing count when using Ghost In the Machine Leader Power. Arbiter's Stasis is your worst combination since it rendered Isabel's Ghost In The Machine useless.
  • Alternatively, if the opponent is using Isabel, have your allies use Stasis Leader Power to nullify the Ghost In The Machine effect.
• Pair up with Johnson's EMP MAC Leader Power for additional damage, or have your allies use EMP MAC to immobilize the enemy, and use MAC to deal more damage.
• Use Holographic Decoys to spot a valuable target for using offense leader power. Beware of Stealth Detection units as they can expose decoy units.
• If your ally is Serina, utilize her cryo power for your MAC advantage, dealing devastating damage to any frozen units.

As Enemy

• Never group up if you're using Vehicles, as Ghost In the Machine is your worst nightmare.
  • Some players may "Dispose" their abilities to gain an advantage should the damage dealt is not enough.
• The Arbiter's Stasis is the best counter against Isabel's Ghost In The Machine, since it practically fails the hijacking due to the units being held in stasis.
• Avoid grouping up together as a single round of MAC can deal devastating damage, which is enough to kill Nightingale with Air Upgrade level 3 when upgraded to maximum level.